I've owned three iPad minis, and every one of them made me say the same thing within a week: "I love this, but I wish it were better." The new OLED iPad mini is the first one that actually answers most of my complaints. It's brighter, thinner, faster, and finally survives a dunk in the pool. It also costs $699 to start, and it still doesn't have a 120Hz screen. So yes, I'm excited. I'm also a little annoyed. Both things can be true.
Apple announced it on October 26 and calls it the biggest update ever for the mini. Pre-orders opened October 28, and the first units land on Friday, November 6. Here's my take on what's new, what's missing, and who should actually buy one.
What's new in the OLED iPad mini
Let's start with the headline feature, because it's a good one.
That screen is a real upgrade
The display grows from 8.3 to 8.5 inches without making the tablet any bigger, thanks to bezels Apple says are 24 percent thinner. It's now an OLED panel with a 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio, so blacks are actually black instead of that glowing dark gray LCDs give you at night.
Brightness gets a big bump too. Apple quotes 600 nits full screen and up to 1,200 nits peak for HDR, which it says is more than double the last mini's peak. The minimum goes all the way down to 1 nit, which sounds like a boring spec until you're reading in bed at 2 a.m. and don't want to burn your eyeballs. If you work outside a lot, there's also a nano-texture glass option on the 256GB and 512GB models for an extra $100.
Thinner, lighter, and it can go swimming
The new mini is 5.4 mm thick, down from 6.3 mm, and weighs 255 grams instead of 297, according to 9to5Mac's breakdown. Forty-two grams doesn't sound like much. Hold a tablet over your face for an hour and you'll feel it.
The part I'm most excited about is the IP67 rating. Apple's spec sheet says it's rated for a maximum depth of 1 meter for up to 30 minutes. For a device people take to the beach, the kitchen, the bathtub and the cockpit, that's huge. I've personally watched a mini get coffee spilled on it, and I would have paid good money for this rating back then.
One small warning from Apple's own fine print: water resistance isn't permanent, it can wear down over time, and liquid damage isn't covered under warranty. So maybe don't make pool reading a daily stress test.
A20 Pro and a weird storage split
Inside is the A20 Pro, built on a 2-nanometer process. Apple claims up to 4.5x faster AI performance, up to 2.7x faster graphics and up to 60 percent faster multithreaded CPU performance compared with the previous mini.
Here's the catch nobody is putting on the box. The 128GB and 256GB models get a 5-core CPU and a single 16-core Neural Engine. Only the 512GB model gets the 6-core CPU and the Dual 16-core Neural Engine. So if you want the full chip Apple brags about, you're buying the $999 version. I get why Apple does this, but tying chip performance to storage size still feels a bit sneaky to me.
The small stuff that adds up
- The 12MP front camera moved to the landscape edge, so video calls no longer look like you're staring off to the side.
- A new "Acoustic Display" uses the screen itself as part of the speaker system for more bass and volume.
- Apple's N1 chip brings Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6 and Thread, and cellular models get the C2 modem.
- Apple Pencil Pro and Apple Pencil (USB-C) both work.
What Apple still didn't fix
Now the grumpy part.
There's no ProMotion. Neither Apple's press release nor its spec page mentions 120Hz, and 9to5Mac concluded it appears to run at 60Hz. On a gorgeous OLED panel in 2026, that's a strange choice. Scrolling on a 60Hz screen right after using a 120Hz phone feels like walking through syrup, and the mini is a device you scroll on constantly. The Verge's David Pierce said he was annoyed by it too, and honestly, I'm glad I'm not the only one.
Then there's the price. The lineup starts at $699 for 128GB, $799 for 256GB and $999 for 512GB on Wi-Fi, with cellular starting at $849. The mini used to be the "affordable small iPad." That label doesn't really fit anymore. Add a $79 Smart Folio and a $129 Pencil Pro and you're flirting with laptop money.
OLED iPad mini: should you buy it?
My honest answer depends on who you are.
Buy it if...
You read a lot, travel a lot, or use your tablet anywhere near water. The combination of OLED, a 1-nit minimum brightness and IP67 makes this the best e-reader-plus-everything device Apple has ever made. Pilots, nurses, field techs and anyone who carries a tablet all day will love the lighter build. If your current mini is two or more generations old, this is a big, noticeable jump.
Wait or skip if...
You mostly game or doomscroll, and smoothness matters more to you than contrast. That 60Hz screen will bug you. Same goes if you just bought the last mini. It's still a perfectly good tablet, and nothing here makes it obsolete overnight.
And if you want serious on-device AI work, like running local models in apps such as Draw Things, think hard before you buy the 128GB model. The full A20 Pro only lives in the 512GB version.
My pick
If I were buying today, I'd go for the 256GB Wi-Fi model at $799. It's enough storage for books, offline video and a few big games, and it gives you the nano-texture option if you want it. I'd skip the 512GB unless you know you need the extra Neural Engine.
The bigger picture
What I find interesting is how much Apple is leaning into the mini as a "pro tool you can hold in one hand." The press release name-checks doctors, pilots and field service workers. The new chip and the extended display support coming with iPadOS 27.2 push it closer to a real work device. That's a far cry from the mini being the small, slightly forgotten iPad Apple only updated every few years.
I like that direction. I just wish Apple had gone all the way and given it the 120Hz screen to match.
FAQ
When does the OLED iPad mini come out?
Pre-orders opened on October 28, 2026, and Apple says the first orders arrive and stores get stock starting Friday, November 6.
How much does the new iPad mini cost?
It starts at $699 for the 128GB Wi-Fi model in the US. The 256GB model is $799, the 512GB model is $999, and cellular versions start at $849.
Is the new iPad mini waterproof?
It's rated IP67, which Apple says means it was tested at up to 1 meter of water for up to 30 minutes. It's water resistant, not waterproof, and liquid damage isn't covered by warranty.
Does the OLED iPad mini have a 120Hz display?
Apple doesn't list ProMotion or 120Hz anywhere in its specs, so it appears to be a 60Hz display.
So, over to you. Is a gorgeous OLED screen and IP67 enough to make you upgrade, or is 60Hz at $699 a dealbreaker? Tell me in the comments.
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